Indigenous Language Media, Language Politics and Democracy in Africa

Brilliant Mhlanga, University of Hertfordshire, UKChima Dick Onwukwe, Abia State University, NigeriaChukwuemeka Uzoma Okugo, Abia State University, NigeriaIkhidero Solomon Ijeweimen, ResearcherItohan Mercy Idumwonyi, Rice University, USAJohn Lwanda, Physician and Social HistorianModestus Fosu, Ghana Institute of Journalism, GhanaOloruntola Sunday, University of Lagos, NigeriaPhilip Onguny, Saint Paul University, CanadaThabisile Buthelezi, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaUfuoma Akpojivi, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

This book deals with the often-neglected link between indigenous languages, media and democracy in Africa. It recognizes that the media plays an amplifying role that is vital to modern-day expression, public participation and democracy but that without the agency to harness media potential, many Africans will be excluded from public discourse.

Introduction: Language, Structure and Agency: Optimising Media Diversity in Africa Using the Indigenous LanguagesPART 11. Indigenous Language Media and Democracy in Africa; Abiodun Salawu2. Indigenous Language Media and Freedom of Expression in Uganda; Monica B. ChibitaPART II3. Isizulu Language and Ilanga Newspaper as Catalysts for Participatory Democracy in South Africa; Thabisile Buthelezi 4. The Return of the Local: Community radio as Dialogic and Participatory; Brilliant Mhlanga5. Towards Effective Development of Indigenous Languages in Nigeria: Community Media as the Way Forward; Chima Onwukwe and Uzoma C. Okugo6. Indigenous Language Broadcasting in Ghana: Retrospect and Prospect; Ufuoma Akpojivi and Modestus FosuPART III7. Indigenous Language Radios in Kenya and the Negotiation of Inter-group Relations During Conflict Processes; Philip Onguny8. Mobilising Nigerians Towards National Population Census: The Role of Indigenous Language Media; Sunday Oloruntola9. The Dynamics of Language Politics in Religious Expression in African Indigenous Churches; Ijeweimen Solomon Ikhidero10. Poverty, Prophets and Politics: 'Marxist' Discourses in Malawi Music, 1994 - 2012; John Lwanda